1. Speak up- As an entrepreneur, you are your number one sales person. You know your product/business/service the best and are the most qualified to share it with others. Entrepreneurship comes with the task of being our own salesperson, and this must be done with enthusiasm. If you believe in your business, eventually so will others. Word of mouth marketing (WOM) is the oldest form of advertising and it has remains the most powerful. So, don’t be shy…speak up!

2. Get uncomfortable- Often times, growth is uncomfortable. You must consciously step out of your comfort zone to take your business to the next level. Whether it might be picking up that phone and making that cold call, or approaching that dream client, it is not always easy and frankly is sometimes terrifying. The good news is, it gets easier! With a little practice and a lot of courage, you will start to feel more comfortable while successfully growing your business. Remember that you have to go get ‘em, they won’t come to you.

3. Give them something- In this economy, everyone appreciates a little something free. Leverage this fact and give something away. A small “something extra” can really make a client or customer happy and will likely secure you a repeat sale. If you are a service based business you might want to send clients a free newsletter, EBook, or tip sheet to get them coming back. If you are a product based business, perhaps something free from your overstock inventory would be a nice gesture.

4. Go where the fish are- You can’t catch fish unless you are in the water and similarly you can’t gain bigger clients unless you go where they are. Join networking groups, chamber meetings, and forums where your potential clients are. Hanging out with your target market will make you more aware of their needs and also much more visible to your potential clients.

1. Set work hours- You might not have to punch a clock and report to work between certain hours, however if you punched a clock at home I bet you would be surprised to see how many hours you are actually working. When working from home, it is so easy to overwork yourself. Getting on the computer for twenty minutes here and ten minutes there can add up to an entire day of working. Rather than trying to “squeeze” it in when you can, consider setting up work hours for yourself. This will help you distinguish work time from family time. If possible, set work hours during the same time your children are in school or even napping. You can always work a couple of hours in the morning and then a couple of hours in the evening. Defining your work time will help you feel less overwhelmed and will also result in you working more efficiently since you will have less distractions.

2. Socialize on your off time- Even though there is tremendous value in building a support system when working from home; do not let it be a time drainer. Save social forums for your “breaks.” Do not chat with online friends or participate in social forums during your set work hours. Think of these places like your water cooler breaks if you were in a traditional office and leave them for your downtime.

3. No excessive emails- Checking your inbox every five minutes can be a very bad habit (and a huge time waster). Although you want to appear prompt in responding to emails, there is really no need to check it every five minutes. Try checking your email at the beginning of your work hours and then at the end before you log off. Resist replying or answering any email that are not work related. It might not seem very time consuming, but forwarding every chain letter email really is not necessary.

By consciously separating your work time from your home life and family time, you should begin to feel more balanced and less stressed when working from home. No one said working from home was easy (well those who have done it don’t anyway), but it can be done effectively. Making a few minor time management changes can really boost your productivity both in the work realm and the on the home front.

Thankfully, there are several opportunities to apply for grant money, business start up contests, or even reality TV shows based on women starting businesses. One opportunity is given by Moms in Business Unite Conference which was founded by five women entrepreneurs with the goal to both educate and empower women in business. This conference is aimed at helping women and Mom Entrepreneurs “pursue their entrepreneurial endeavors by providing tools, resources, and guidance for their journey through the various stages of business ownership.”

The conference is an all day event (taking place September 16, 2009) which will include a key note speakers, panel discussions, breakout sessions for attendees, product demonstrations by new inventors, networking, and an award ceremony. During the award ceremony, one Mom Entrepreneur will be awarded a grant which will help her take her innovative idea to the next level by providing much needed capital. To find out more about the conference in general visit Moms in Business Unite. To learn more information about qualifying and applying for the Moms in Business Unite 2009 Grant, read the contest details here.

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Danielle Wilkinson, a casting director for Milojo Productions. She generously shared some insight on what they are looking for in applicants and also shares some advice for women interested in applying. Q:  What are the casting directors looking for in an applicant? What factors determine if an applicant will be considered? 
 Danielle: There isn’t any one thing we are looking for. It is a hard thing to pinpoint as sometimes someone just has that certain, “something”. That said, a great personality and a great product get you to the top of the list. We are also looking for personal stories. What would this opportunity mean to the inventor? Maybe they are a single mom and this would be a chance for them to finally get ahead. Maybe they have put their dreams on hold to raise a family but now they are empty nesters and it is their time to shine. A healthy combination of personality, passion and product is your best bet!
 
Q:  What has been most surprising so far in searching for show participants?
Danielle: Two things: First, people are really innovative. They are clever and it is amazing to see creativity come to life. Second, watching people turn tragedy into triumph. A woman who is losing her hair inventing a headband that won’t hurt your head is inspiring. Or a woman who has a special needs child designing a special drinking container for them and realizing all children could benefit from it.
 
Q:  Any tips for women inventors who would like to participate in this new show?
Danielle: Whether you are coming to an open call or submitting an online video- HAVE FUN. Be yourself and show us your personality. I always tell people, “We are rooting for you.” We are sitting on the other side of the camera hoping you do an amazing job. So relax, have fun, be yourself. And not matter what, KEEP INVENTING because you are all an inspiration and just because this show may not be a match for you, it does not mean you don’t have a great idea or product.

If you are interested in applying for TLC and Kelly Ripa’s new inventor’s series you can attend a local casting call in person or submit a video application online. Visit the official casting page for more details and instructions on how to apply.

Many small start ups and blogs don’t have a lot of extra money to pour into search engine optimization. In fact, many start up websites and blogs are ran by women, often stay at home moms. If you fall into this category, the best solution for you is to hire an SEO specialist who understands what needs to be done and how to do it effectively all while offering budget friendly services. I trust and recommend Her SEO, offering  search engine optimization for women-owned businesses. That’s you Mom-Entrepreneurs!
A little bit from Her SEO:

“Our goal is to provide affordable SEO for small businesses; we understand that you don’t have thousands of dollars for SEO help. We are happy to work within your budget, to mix and match services to ensure you receive the biggest return on your investment.”

It gets better! If you are more of a do-it-yourself Mom-Entrepreneur, Her SEO has created a must have SEO resource for any Mom-Entrepreneur. 50 SEO Secrets for Mom Entrepreneurs is the essential ‘how to’ guide for anyone wanting to drive more traffic to their site. I found this EBook to be extremely helpful, understandable, and a perfect alternative to hiring an SEO firm. I trusted that Holly Klaassen (A Mom Entrepreneur herself) knew her “stuff” and she sure came through!

Check out her EBook and start driving traffic to your website or blog today!

Click here to visit Her SEO website!

http://delectiblemommies.blogspot.com/

For more information about small business online advertising options, visit www.OrangeSoda.com.

     Let me take a step back. In case you have been living under a very large rock, you might be wondering “who the heck is Peter Shankman?” Well, Peter is a man who wears many hats (including a skydiver helmet). He is an entrepreneur, a public speaker, an author, a PR pro, and an amazing social networker (among many other titles I am surely forgetting to mention). A leader in social media strategies, advertising, and creative marketing, Peter is what many aspire to be. However, you could write an entire review on Peter himself, or his book Can We Do That?! Outrageous PR Stunts That Work- And Why Your Company Needs Them but this review is for HARO so we will save those topics for later.

     So… back to HARO. Peter created HARO; an opt-in email service that sends you three emails every weekday chalked full of queries. Any given email includes between 15-30 queries each and often times, many more than that. A large majority of the queries are journalists looking for a story. For example, you might see a journo from the AP looking to interview a homeowner who has had problems with their mortgage company. You might also see a query from TLC looking for someone interested on being on their make over show. You will most definitely see a query from time to time looking for loot for swag bags (like the Oscars). As you can see from my mere three examples, many people can benefit from joining HARO. You can join and receive the daily emails and you can also join and pitch yourself as a source if you are looking for a story. Oh, and it is FREE.

I know several people who have benefited from HARO, including myself. I had my own online business and anxiously awaited each HARO to see who I could pitch next (always on-topic of course). Through HARO, I was able to make several connections I know I would have never made on my own. From major national magazines to smaller online media, I was able to pitch people and companies of all types. I also know several other entrepreneurs who have signed up with Peter and advertised through HARO (he allows one paid advertised spot- which he writes himself in his own words- so it never reads like spam). The ads are included in the opening paragraph of each email list sent. Think about the benefit, this email goes out to over 50,000 people and has almost a 100% open rate!

If this review sounds like a huge plug for HARO, well it is. No I do not work from Peter (but Peter, if you’re reading this- I’d LOVE to) I just simply am in awe of people these days that have the creativity like Peter and don’t try to rip you off. Remember I mentioned that it’s free?! I am happy to help spread the word for something I believe in and that is what Peter hopes for in return. So go ahead, sign up for HARO, oh and follow him on Twitter for urgent queries that just can’t wait a few hours until the next email hits the presses @skydiver.

Bonus: If you love witty humor and cats you will get an extra treat when you read your HARO emails. See for yourself.

Here are some basic tips to making people want to hear what you have to say!

1) Define a clear purpose of your blog. If it is about family, then stick to that and your family and friends will be glad to be a part of it! If it is to draw attention to a project or affiliation, then be sure to look at all possible inclusions for that topic-including press mentions, partnerships etc. If it is to earn money, then you truly need to define a scope or “keyword” specific topic that you will right about. OK, so why is this so important…this whole “define a purpose” concept. Well, I am going to tell you in the next step..so go ahead, read on!

2) Your purpose is going to define your readership and demographic and determine the extent of your “reach” to prospective readers. Think about it, if you start a blog about deer hunting, you can almost guarantee you will lose a large majority of women….just like if you start one about fine jewelry, I can almost guarantee men will not be there seeing your posts! When definiing a topic or blog concept, try to create an environment that is conducive to both men and women.

3) Make your blog user friendly and attractive to your primary demographic. Use the “less is more” concept – this will get you further than an over designed too busy blog. Many readers that may come across your blog may not be active blog readers and may find a site that is too busy a turn off.

4) Create posts that are both useful and entertaining! Be yourself and use a “tone” in your writing that reflects your personality. If you are satirical in life, it is OK to be satirical in blogging-it will help you find the right readers.

5) Make your readers want to come back for more by being consistent with your writing style, topics and entertainment value. If you write about cooking – then your posts should be about cooking only. If you start posting about your kids, a car that you like or any other totally irrelevant topic, this is a sure fire way to lost potential subscribers. Assure them that they will find interesting and relevant content ALL the time!

6) Be sure to promote your blog on sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to create visibility. Be sure to include your blog address in your email signature.

7) Run contests that are relevant to your blog topic. Post your contests on free contest listing sites to generate additional interest and traffic.

Exchange links with like minded blogs. If you are a pet blog, be sure to try and get links on some pet related websites. Tell the store owner you will do a “feature” post for them and maybe run an ad in return for the link.

Well, what do you think? A few simple steps to get you started in the world of getting your blog seen. It is not easy, no matter what niche your blog is in, there is competition everywhere. You need to get out there and promote it, and make it interesting!

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There are many sites out there to download themes from but please use caution and do your homework! The wrong theme can cause more problems than you may expect.

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